Mashatile refutes Blue IQ claims

GAUTENG ANC chairperson and Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile has distanced himself from reports that he approved exorbitant remuneration for Blue IQ board members.

GAUTENG ANC chairperson and Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile has distanced himself from reports that he approved exorbitant remuneration for Blue IQ board members.

Mashatile told Sowetan yesterday that when board members were appointed, he was already premier of the province. "It is not correct that I approved their payment," said Mashatile.

He said the board was appointed by current MEC for finance Mandla Nkomfe. "I cannot be blamed for expenditure that I was not responsible for," he said.

Sowetan's report was based on a reply to a question DA leader Jack Bloom had posed to MEC for economic development Firoz Cachalia. In his reply, Cachalia said Blue IQ board chairperson Noedine Isaacs-Mpulo was paid R25000 per meeting while other members pocketed R20000 each.

He said they were paid in accordance with the terms set out in their letters of appointment, dated January 30 2009.

Bloom said "this all took place under former MEC Paul Mashatile".

Blue IQ said the board set its remuneration and sought the approval of the MEC. When pressed to identify the MEC who was responsible, the company said: "The period up to the later part of 2008, the MEC for DED was Paul Mashatile, late 2008 to 2009 the MEC for DED was Mandla Nkomfe and since April 2009 the current MEC Firoz Cachalia.

"Appointments to the Blue IQ board have been made across all three terms of office."